“Don’t you trust me?” he murmured, the tiniest flicker of hurt in his tone.
“Of course, I do,” I responded, “but you have that look on your face.”
Cade’s eyebrows lifted. “What look?”
“The look that says you are up to something.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” he countered, that wicked light dancing in his irises again.
I narrowed my eyes, but I had already given in. “Sometimes.”
“Well, since you are having such a hard time deciding whether you should trust me at the moment, I think it best I take charge and make the decision for you.”
Before I could respond to that, he reached down and scooped me up in his arms. I gasped, breathless for more reasons than one, and smacked him on the shoulder. There was laughter in my voice when I hissed, “Cade!”
He started toward the far end of the patio.
“Where are we going!?” I insisted again.
And once more, he didn’t answer. When he veered toward the stairs that led down into the caverns, I felt my smile fade a little as I ducked away from the fine mist cast by the waterfall.
We entered the darkness of the caves, and my skin began to prickle against the damp cold. For a few minutes we traveled, deeper and farther than we had ever gone before.
“Cade?!” I said, starting to worry, “Should I have gone back to our room to change?” I didn’t want to ruin my beautiful dress.
“Hang on, Meghan,” he answered, yanking me close and pulling us both into a dolmarehn.
When we stepped out on the other side, I nearly gasped in shock. A deep alcove, a little larger than the grand entrance hall at Luathara, loomed before us. Smooth, dark rock rose on one side, a waterfall streaming over the stone and making it gleam like obsidian. Tall, spindly birch and aspen trees stood in a thick grove to the left, their spade-shaped leaves fluttering in the gentle breeze like tiny, deep green wings against a dark sky. Thin ropes, similar to the ones decorating the terrace behind Luathara, made a loose spider web pattern between the tree branches and the ledge where the waterfall began. More soft, golden lights hung suspended from the ropes, making the alcove appear to be filled with warm, sparkling starlight.
I took a step forward and felt my foot sink a few inches. I looked down and sighed in wonder. The earth was carpeted with thick, spongy moss. Wanting to feel it against my bare feet, I reached down and removed my shoes, reveling in the cool comfort of the natural floor. In my opinion, walking over moss was as enjoyable as walking barefoot on the beach, if not more so.
“Oh, Cade, you have to try this!”
He laughed and complied, reaching down to remove his shoes and socks. Once he had joined me, I gathered my senses enough to turn around and study the most interesting feature of all. In the center of the moss field there rose four tall saplings, and between them was an enormous pile of down pillows and cushions. Blankets and sheets in cream and gold tones lay piled neatly to the side, and between the small trees someone had strung wide streamers of sheer white fabric. The combination of cushions and diaphanous curtains created a four-poster bed fit for a faerie king and queen. It was the most beautiful setting I had laid my eyes upon.
“What is all this, Cade?” I breathed, coming to a stop so I could just take everything in without making myself dizzy.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
I nodded, unable to speak.
“It is my gift to you. Our own secluded corner of the Weald, far away from all of our wedding guests.” He moved in close to me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me back against his chest. “Somewhere for us to be alone, if only for tonight.”
I leaned against him, still not speaking. I just wanted to breathe in the beautiful perfumes of wild magic and enchanted forest surrounding me. And that unmistakable scent that was unique to Cade and would forever bring me peace.
Sighing, I turned in his loose embrace and tilted my eyes up to his, wondering what I could have possibly done in my short life to deserve him.
He lifted a hand to my cheek, brushing his fingers over my skin in a tender caress. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Oh, he knew me too well.
I huffed out a breath that was more laughter than anything else. “Again, you have given me everything, and I have nothing for you in return. This,” I indicated the enchanted alcove and the soft pile of pillows and blankets and ethereal lace draped along the oak limbs stretching over our bower, “is far more than I expected.”
“Oh, Meghan,” he said softly, in that tone he used when he thought I was being silly. He clucked his tongue and shook his head slightly, smiling at me with his green eyes darkening to deep jade. Cade bent down and pressed his lips to mine, gentle and with the ease of someone who knew he could take his time because he had forever ahead of him. “When are you going to learn?” he continued, his mouth brushing against mine. “I already have everything I could possibly want.”
I smiled, my guilt easing a little. It was hard to regret my shortcomings with regards to gift-giving when he spoke to me in those tones.
“Oh?” I teased, “And what is that?”
Cade pushed his fingers through my hair, gently removing the pins and letting my dark curls fall free. He moved one hand to the spot behind my shoulder, then trailed his fingers to the edge of the fabric of my dress and carefully started unhooking the clasps that ran down my back. I gasped as he bent to kiss my neck, the heat of his mouth searing my skin and sending my glamour dancing.
“Your heart,” he murmured, getting the last hasp unhooked, so the top half of my dress fell to my waist.
Cade moved his hand and placed it over my heart, lifting his gaze back to mine. His eyes were so dark, but they burned with an intensity I liked to think had only ever been seen by me.
“Your soul,” he continued, moving his hands to my hips and pushing my dress down even farther.
I didn’t like the feel of fabric against my bare skin, so I followed his lead, unbuttoning his jacket and then pulling the hem of his shirt from the waistband of his kilt. Cade helped by stepping back an inch, so I could free him completely of his coat, then the shirt.
As soon as both were gone, I moved back toward him, eager to feel his hot skin against mine. I could have stood there all night pressed against him like that, tracing my fingers over the ridges of his muscles and following the lines of his tattoos, but there was so much more to do, to feel, to enjoy. This was by no means a new experience for the two of us, but there was something different about tonight: the low hum of magic surrounding us, the soft white and gold glow of fae lights, the gentle melody of flowing water, the wonderful fragrance of the Weald’s wildflowers in full bloom ... All those things added to the mood, of course, but the truth of it was, I had found my soul mate, my faeleahn, and we were sharing our first night together as a bonded couple, as husband and wife.
I grinned like an idiot as Cade, who had suddenly become single-minded in his actions, slid the rest of my dress down my legs, so it gathered around my feet like a sapphire pool of silk. For a few moments, I stood there unashamed and glowing as Cade raked his eyes over me. Never, in all my life, did I feel so beautiful except for when Cade looked at me like that. I studied him in return, his face with its perfect, masculine lines, his green, changeable eyes, his dark chestnut hair, his well-conditioned arms and chest. I let my eyes linger on the scars he had received throughout his life, taking extra care to admire his intricate tattoos as I had wanted to do only moments before. I even spent time regarding the one on his pectoral muscle that branded him as the Morrigan’s slave. Former slave, I reminded myself. He never had to be that person again. I could have stood there and soaked in the sight of him in that kilt all night, but there was more I wanted to see. So much more.
Stepping forward with a boldness I never knew I possessed before meeting this Faelorehn man, I reached out and loosened the clasps on his kilt. Cade was just as eager as I was, helping me with the stubborn butto
ns until we were both completely free of any more restrictions, like two wild nymphs of the forest.
Cade moved quickly, bending to scoop me up into his arms. I squealed and started laughing, trying to get him to put me down. He complied, toppling us both over onto the pile of pillows below our makeshift bower. I sighed when he settled his weight over me, stretching both our arms above my head.
“Well, Lady MacRoich,” he growled softly, “how shall we start the rest of our lives?”
He lay still above me, not moving an inch, while he waited for my reply.
Trying not to laugh and ruin the moment, I bit my lip and contemplated his question. I could have answered that in a number of ways, but at the moment, I thought the less time we spent talking, the better. After all, he had only guaranteed one night alone, and I was ready to make good use of what time we had left.
“How about like this?” I asked.
Cade waited for me to continue, his gaze growing puzzled when I didn’t respond right away. I took advantage of his moment of uncertainty and moved, shoving against him just enough to push him over. Now I leaned above him, his hands pinned back by mine, my hair falling in a curtain of dark curls.
“I believe,” I purred, pouring as much seduction into my voice as I could, “it’s my turn to take charge, don’t you think?”
I leaned down and kissed him, nipping his bottom lip on the way back up. The fire in his eyes was enough to make my bones melt. Without trying to free his arms, he looked up at me and gave a lazy smile.
“Now that, Lady MacRoich,” he practically crooned, his voice deep and sensual, “is a most marvelous idea.”
After that, the night blended into an endless series of one breathtaking sensation after another. Cade and I were no longer two people with separate hearts, souls and spirits. We molded our bodies together, fused our spirits and knitted our souls so completely, I wasn’t sure we would ever be able to move without the other being pulled along. As the stars wheeled above our heads, we reveled in each other’s company, counting all of our blessings and vowing, again and again, that no matter what came our way down the road, we would face it together.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Monica Castagnasso, my editor, for all that you do to help polish my paragraphs, wax my words and streamline my sentences. I would also like to thank my Faeleahn beta readers: Stephanie Brady, Katrina Curry, Becky Dillingham, Melanie Kucharik, Jodi Moore and Kim Nidiffer, for always making time in your busy schedules to give me important feedback regarding my novels and novellas. And, as always, a resounding Thank You to my readers. Without your support I would not be where I am today. May the wild Spirit of Eile always send blessings your way.
About the Author
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson grew up and still resides on the Central Coast of California, the very location that has become the set of her novel, Faelorehn, and the inspiration for her other series, The Legend of Oescienne.
Miss Johnson has a degree in Art Practice with an emphasis in Celtic Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. She now draws much of her insight from the myths and legends of ancient Ireland to help set the theme for her books.
Besides writing and drawing, Miss Johnson enjoys reading, gardening, camping and hiking. In her free time (the time not dedicated to writing), she also practices the art of long sword combat and traditional archery.
For contact information, visit the author’s website at:
www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com
Other books by this author:
The Legend of Oescienne Series
The Finding (Book One)
The Beginning (Book Two)
The Awakening (Book Three)
The Ascending (Book Four)
Tales of Oescienne - A Short Story Collection
*Read excerpts of these books here*
The Otherworld Series
Meghan’s POV
Faelorehn (Book One)
Dolmarehn (Book Two)
Luathara (Book Three)
Cade’s POV
Ehriad - A Novella of the Otherworld (Book Four)
Ghalien – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Five)
Robyn’s POV
Lorehnin – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Six)
Caelihn – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Seven)
Meghan’s and Cade’s POV
Faeleahn - A Novella of the Otherworld (Book Eight)
Standalone Novel
Faeborne - A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Nine)
Aiden’s POV
Faebound - A Novella of the Otherworld (Book Ten)
The Morrigan’s POV
Faescorned - A Tale of the Otherworld (available in the Once Upon A Curse anthology)
*Read excerpts of these books here*
Connect with Me Online:
Twitter: @AuthorJEJohnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjejohnson
My Website: http://www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com/
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Instagram: http://instagram.com/authorjejohnson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/authorjejohnson
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Now read an excerpt from the first book in the Otherworld Trilogy, Faelorehn:
From Chapter Six – Encounter ...
Eventually the movie ended and our night came to a close. Tully and Robyn were gone by midnight and I went straight to bed. I remembered falling instantly to sleep and waking up on the dirty streets of Los Angeles. Wonderful. That annoying dream of my past again. It was essentially the same as always, but something was different this time. I looked down at my feet. Yup, they were still bare, but for some reason the distance from my eyes to my toes seemed greater. I held my hands out in front of me. Not a child’s hands, but a young woman’s. That was odd; I was always a toddler in this dream. At least I had my pajamas on this time.
Suddenly, without warning, the scenery changed and I was standing in my back yard. The moon was nearly full so its silver light cast long reaching shadows as it splintered through the silent trees.
I heard the near quiet huff of an exhaled breath and I glanced up from my self-examination. A great white dog was standing on the edge of my backyard, his ears perked forward and his black eyes watching me. He was as still as the night but somehow I knew he was beckoning me. I moved toward him and he turned and descended down the steep slope that led into the swamp below.
I knew I should have stayed put, but it was only a dream and I had absolutely no control of myself. I followed him without a second thought.
The leaves and branches crunched beneath my feet as I tried to keep up with the specter-like dog. Thank goodness he was so huge or else I might have lost him. Had it been a moonless night, he’d be easy to spot, but his pale color nearly blended in with the white pools of light.
He led me farther along a trail, one I was familiar with; the same one where I was chased by a pack of warty gnomes just the day before. We walked for five or ten minutes, my spirit dog always staying twenty feet ahead and never looking back. Finally, the slowly descending trail ended and the dog took a sudden left, cutting across the small land bridge that split the lowest part of the bog. I followed him, eyeing the willows and oaks forming a dark, leafy bower overhead.
I ended up on the other side of the marsh, very close to the place where my friends and I had had our Samhain gathering the night before. A tall mix of eucalyptus and oak trees spread off to my right and the other section of the swamp continued far into the distance. Just off the main trail I spotted the small clearing where we had gathered. In the center of the clearing sat the dog, right where our bonfire had been, waiting silently for me to approach. I moved forward, my hand outstretched. Even sitting down, his shoulders came up to my waist.
Just as I placed my hand on his scraggly head, I woke up.
I w
as standing, in my nightgown, in the middle of the swamp behind my house. At first I was confused. Was this another part of my dream? But the sharp itch of a mosquito taking advantage of my bare arm brought me to my senses. I slapped the insect away, but my confusion was quickly being replaced by panic. Did I really sleepwalk from my room down into the swamp? I must have, how else could I have gotten here, barefoot, without a jacket, and standing upright no less?
I pulled my arms close to fight the chill and quickly darted my eyes from side to side. There is nobody here, I told myself, stay calm Meghan. But it didn’t help. I tried to tell myself that the moonlight was bright enough to light my way home, and that the only thing in the swamp that I should fear were the mosquitoes. Unfortunately, I had seen some weird things in this swamp during the last few days, and I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be any better at night.
I took a tentative step forward and felt the sharp bite of a stick. Chewing my lip and cursing silently, I tried another, gentler step.
A low growling sound in the bushes behind me caught my attention. I stiffened and felt my blood freeze. It didn’t sound like any dog I’d ever heard and I knew that we occasionally got black bears in the swamp. I tried hard to put that thought out of my mind. Unfortunately, in order to do that my memory decided right then and there to conjure up the images of the gnomes again. Would I be able to see them in the moonlight if they started coming after me?
The growling intensified and the snapping of twigs and rustle of leaves told me that there was more than one of whatever it was I was hearing. I cursed for real this time, something I rarely did. I glanced over my shoulder, back into the thick brush that lined the far edge of the wetlands. That was when I completely lost it. I knew animal eyes tended to glow orange or green if they were caught by your headlights or a flashlight, but only when the light hit them. Within the dark bushes I spotted several pairs of eyes, glowing continuously in the strangest shade of violet I had ever seen. I blinked to clear my eyes, hoping it was a result of my delirium from sleepwalking and the strange silvery light of the moon. I was wrong, as usual. There really were violet eyes staring back at me, at least five pairs.
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